Just The Way You Are(57)

"Do you want to get some lunch?" Jimmy asked

"My assistant won't be back for another fifteen minutes."

"I can wait."

"You must have something better to do with your day."

"Not really."

"Oh, that's right, Tessa is sailing with Sam." And the thought drove any lingering affection for Tessa right out of her heart.

Jimmy smiled. "Bugs the hell out of you, doesn't it?"

"No. Sam and I are getting a divorce."

"So I hear. I can't quite figure that one out, though. You got him. Why don't you just hang on to him?"

"Because hanging on isn't enough anymore, not that it's any of your business." She took a deep breath. "I need to stay here, finish up some work, especially since we need to look for oysters again this afternoon. Although I heard there might be a storm coming in."

"Tessa says we have to hike down to this oyster farm. I tell you, I didn't know your sister was such a country girl."

"She isn't."

"But she was."

"I guess. Tessa liked exploring. She was convinced that smugglers had once used Tucker's Landing to sneak in their treasures. She'd lead scavenging expeditions during the summer. They never found anything, though."

"Sounds like a fun sister."

"Not really. I wasn't included in the adventures."

"Then how do you know about them?"

"Because I followed, of course," she said, hating the knowing smirk on his face. "Like you never followed your brother."

"Oh, I did all the time, but he wasn't nearly as interesting, too concerned with toeing the line."

"Well, Tessa didn't break any laws, but everyone followed her anyway. She was the pied piper around here."#p#分页标题#e#

"Because she was beautiful?"

"Yes, but…" Alli paused, suddenly realizing that wasn't the complete truth. "She could make the other kids believe they were about to discover a pirate's stash of treasure. She had a gift for telling stories."

"I wonder why she doesn't tell them anymore?" he mused.

The phone rang, and Alli picked it up. "Alley Cat," she said. "Hi, Josie. How are you today?"

"Terrible," Josie replied. "Your husband was supposed to be back twenty minutes ago."

Alli's heart jumped into her throat. "You don't think something has happened to Sam?"

"Don't be silly. But he's turned his radio off, and, well, I wouldn't care, except that I've got a tank full of fish waiting to be unloaded and Petrie's restaurant needs it by two or they don't need it at all. Everyone is out, Alli. Gary is on another tour, Mike is sick, and Billy has disappeared again. I don't know what to do. I can't unload the fish myself.

"Okay, calm down. Try Sam on the radio again. I'll be down there as soon as Mary Ann gets back. I'm sure he just lost track of the time."

Alli hung up the phone and frowned at Jimmy. "Sam and Tessa were supposed to be back twenty minutes ago."

"I'm sure they're fine."

"Of course they are. It's just that Sam doesn't usually turn off the radio." Unless he didn't want to be interrupted. Oh, God. Were he and Tessa making love?

"Don't think about it," Jimmy advised.

"You don't know what I'm thinking." She wandered over to the window and looked out at the harbor.

"Oh, yes I do," he said dryly. "But Tessa wouldn't sleep with a married man."

"Unless that man was Sam." Alli turned her head. "For him, I think Tessa would do just about anything."





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Chapter 15



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Sam looked into a pair of beautiful blue eyes set in the prettiest face he had ever seen—a face that was offered up to him with a mouth begging to be kissed. He'd never refused Tessa anything. And he didn't know how to start now.

He lowered his head and allowed his mouth to touch hers, a brief, chaste kiss, much like the very first one they'd shared when they were thirteen years old. Her lips were cool. Or maybe his were.

It felt strange to be this close to her after years of separation. He started to slide his arms around her waist, then hesitated. She was taller than he remembered. Her body felt too thin, too angled. She was perfect, he reminded himself. The whole world thought so. But it didn't feel right. Not at all.

Tessa pulled away from him. "You kissed me like you were afraid I was going to break."

Her eyes were worried. She looked as unsure as he felt.

"Maybe I am afraid you'll break, or that you'll disappear. Maybe this is all a dream."

"I'm here, Sam. I'm not going anywhere."

Her words became a lie as the boat pitched suddenly, sending her into Sam's arms. He caught her as a gust of wind rocked the boat back and forth on the water.